Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-18
THE SEMINOLE'S WRECK.
THE STEAMt.R SUNK AT THE
MOUTH OF wNIGHr RIVER.

RssseDgers and Crew Landed In fawI
and Spend the Night on Page Island
They Start for the City In an Oyster
Boat and are Nearly Wrecked in n
squalI-A Night of ID lscomiOrt.
The steamer Seminole, plying between
Savannah and Beaufort, S. c., collided
with an old wreck at the mouth Of
Wright river at 0 O'Clock Wednesday
night and sunk almost Immediately.
The Seminole left Beaufort Wednesday
afternoon with general cargo. There
were six passengers on board, Mr.. George
g. Lacy, DR.. J. c. MoroocK and i. w
Morcock, of Savannah; W. j. Baker, OF
Beauforl! K. X. More, of Button, anu g
colored preacher, Rev. A. G. Ares, OF
Blutfton. The steamer is owned by Capt
Harry Strobhar who commanded her. She
was due In Savannah before II O'Clock
Wednesday night.
BLOWING ALMOST A GALE.
A strong northwest wind was blowing
when the steamer left Buffton, and the
night was pitch dark. The passengers
were all in the cabin. 1t was 8 o'clock
when the mouth of Wright river was
reached, and few minutes later the YES
sci struck. The passengers were partly
thrown from the setteea, the shock was
so severe. The first thought was that
there had been collision. The Captain
was in the pilot house, and signaled the
engineer to reverse the engines.
CAREENED OVER.
Almost al the same time the steamer
careened over. The Captain called to the
N 90 hn oil hof he
vessel was sinking. There was rush
for the decks, and in less than minute
the yAwl boat was launched. In the
scramble to get into it two or three of the
passengers fell overheard. They were
picked up and hauled into the boat, and
The first load started for the shore. In
the confusion and darkness 1t was i'm
possible to tell in which direction the
shore lay. The river was not over 100
yards wide, however, and 1t was about
midway between shores that the steamer
struck. Three trips were made before
the passengers and crew were all landed.
THE STEAMERS BOW STOVE IN.
The Seminole's bow was stove in on
the starboard side, and the water was
pouring In through hole feet long by
4 inches wide. She struck the iron rib
OF sunken wreck, tearing a
gap in her side which it was
impossible to stop. just as the
boat was leaving for the shore the fourth
time the steamer Careened and sank in
twenty feet OF water, the roof of her pilot
house only remaining above the surface.
A stiff wind was blowing and the passen-
gers had some difficulty in landing. They
finally found a dry spot on Page Island.
The crew saved a basket OF eggs
from the steamer. Fuel was scarce, but
nnnnUb pinkTnd a II
fire, and the eggs were roasted and eateu
with a relish by the wet and hungry pas
sengers. Tue fuel lasted about an hour,
when the fire died out.
CAMPED FOR THE MIGHT.
Soaked through with salt water, the
passengers and crew crowded under q
piece OF canvas, which had been used as a
BOAT cover, and camped for the night. Ii
was impossibl9 TO sleep. The weather
was colo aud most OF the passengers were
without oYeTc0ats. The sand drifted un-
der the canvas, which afforded little
protection and tne night was spent wait.
ing for morning TO come. AS soon as ii
was daylight two OF the crew started Tor
Daufuski Island five miles from the wreck
they returned about s O'Clock with an
oyster boat. Leaving tue crew except
Capt. Strobhar and the Steward at the
wreck the rest started tor Savannah.
The wind did not go down but BILE "
stronger toward noon.
1t was 10 o'clock when the wrecke
party reached the Savannah river. The
water was rough, and as the unwieldy
oyster boat rounded the point squat
struck her tearing loose ner rigging and
throwing her almost on beam ends.
ALMOST WRECKED AGAIN.
When she righted the cabin was hal
full OF water. BY bailIng she was KEPT
clear OF wafer, but those on board were
wet to the skin. The water got rOughel
all the while, and the boat was run into
the marsh at Genesis Point anC
signal was raised. The tug Iris
went to the boats assistance, anC
the passengers were taken of anC
brought up to the city, reaching here q
little after o'clock, 1t was a rough eX.
perisnce that they endured and there was
not one who was not glad TO get on sure
land.
A tug and lighters will be sent down to
the wreck today for the purpose OF rails.
ing her. The Seminole was built at Jack.
sonville in 1882. She was 81 feet over al
in length and was about Is tons burden,